Monday, July 07, 2008 Mercado: Wild dog chase By Ram Mercado First Person
FOR a province that had produced brilliant legal minds like the martyr Jose Abad Santos and the legendary Estelito Mendoza, it appears Pampanga lacks enough outstanding lawyers who can qualify to handle celebrated cases in the local scene.
So we read about the entry of a new legal luminary in the community, Atty. Elly Velez Pamatong, who has joined in what could be a "wild dog chase" in rounding up or putting a lease on a runaway maverick in the person of Governor Eddie Panlilio.
Among Ed, on the other hand, has a legal counsel, Atty. Ernesto Francisco whose clients include the latest version of coup plotters at the aborted Peninsula Hotel caper.
What has happened to our own bright and famous local lawyers? Can't anyone imbibe from Pamatong's patriotism, match his personal zeal and enterprise, or equal his love of the law on electoral matters?
Like an avenging angel coming from nowhere, Pamatong, who has extensive political experience including a botched aspiration for the Presidency, has accused Panlilio of perjury by knowingly and maliciously submitting a fraudulent report of his campaign contributions, short of saying Among Ed pocketed the balance.
Pampangos do not know much about Atty. Ernesto Francisco, Among Ed's legal adviser, who is reported regularly monitoring his client's activities and happenings in the Capitol from reports provided by Atty. Vivian Velez, provincial administrator. I heard no local lawyer can hold a candle to him.
Though not as well sought a lawyer as Francisco, Pamatong is more popular than the former, not only as an aborted Presidential candidate, like our own Chito Bacani from Lourdes Sur, Angeles City who, to Pampanga's loss, was declared a "nuisance" candidate. Francisco used to be lawyer for Mrs. Lolita Hizon.
Time has caused a fuzzy memory, but was not Pamatong the same suspect mastermind in the sowing of iron spikes on the streets in an anti-administration protest for being classified nuisance candidate?
I ask the indulgence of Among Ed if I describe the concerted ouster action against him like a "wild dog chase." By reality it is not, but the drama, excitement, and the passion of the chase approximate the actuality.
The game participants now include the famous lawyer who also filed his particulars against the Manila Archbishop and the Pope.
Pamatong is likely to pull the rug from under the fellow chasers, with his penchant for publicity antics and ability to catch mass media attention.
Metaphorically, the original wild dog-catcher in town is Vice Governor Yeng Guiao who already initiated filing an administrative case against Panlilio before the Ombudsman for not implementing a Quarry Fund ordinance.
Then the Pampanga Mayors League (PML), whose patroness was Among Ed's principal adversary in the gubernatorial polls, joined the chase with their brooms and sticks and stones.
The PML has solicited the support of Mayor Jerry Pelayo who took over the task of articulating anti-Panlilio's (mis)governance or the lack thereof from old-time spokesman Mayor Boking Morales.
Mayor Boking has since kept quiet and was frequently seen in amiable detente with the Governor who supports the future city status of Mabalacat.
Mayor Jerry has taken the fight against Panlilio, upon whose prodding and encouragement, whether from the Pinedas of Lubao or from his Malacañang handlers, we are guessing, or both. He has discarded the sticks and brooms in the chase, preferring to fire booming 16mm howitzers to obliterate the quarry, entangled as he is, it seems, like a prey within thorny and dense political thicket in the wilderness.
Pelayo, the President's known trusted political officer and trouble-shooter not only in Region 3 but elsewhere, sends a subliminal message. By his overt or covert action, his handlers could be not far behind the lead hunter in the dog chase.
The voluble and articulate PML spokesman might as well be the real power in the province, having upstaged Mayor Dennis Pineda in the cause of demanding the ouster of the Capitol incumbent.
Also, in coming to the defense of his colleague, the Bird Man of Candaba vehemently denied and protested Capitol's allusion that mayors were involved in payment of commissions (SOPs) in provincial funded projects.
Pelayo, however, does not protest or deny allegations that the suspect mayors (excluding himself, certainly) were on the take with STL's counterpart game, whatever name you call it, that goes unmolested in their areas.
Like in all running pursuits anywhere, the hunters get snagged by obstacles. In this case the issue of jueteng obstructs Pelayo et al. and hamper the busy legs of most of the wild dogcatchers in town in their noble enterprise.
For peace and the cause of good governance, let us join Mayor Jerry and the mayors in praying for God's guidance to the former priest. Above all, it should not only be a prayer for the Gov, but for all of those involved, both predator and prey, in a collective mighty supplication called Oratorio Imperata, a prayer usually recited during crises and calamities.
